VAN WERT — A murder case with capital punishment implications is scheduled to begin Monday in Van Wert Common Pleas Court.
Jury selection will get underway Monday morning in the trial of Christopher Peters, 27, of Delphos, who is facing the death penalty after being charged with aggravated murder in the death of an infant.
Peters has pleaded not guilty to aggravated murder, murder, felonious assault and endangering children in the death of 15-month-old Hayden Ridinger. The child was found dead inside an apartment Nov. 15 at 24249 Lincoln Highway.
The child’s mother, 24-year-old Valerie Dean, faces involuntary manslaughter and child endangerment charges in connection with the infant’s death.
Peters’ attorneys, including William Kluge, of Lima, have filed several motions with the court in recent months concerning the questionnaire for potential jurors, which was altered after the defense argued jurors should have more space to express their views on capital punishment. The new questionnaire will provide potential jurors with more response lines on the death penalty question, Judge Martin Burchfield said in June.
Two weeks have been set aside for Peters’ trial.
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